PLAYA VISTA — Clippers coach Doc Rivers had little to say about LeBron James the Laker – “LeBron is LeBron” – and more to say about the man.

“LeBron has overachieved in his career,” Rivers said of the 14-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, whose new Lakers team will face Rivers’ Clippers in a preseason exhibition Saturday at 7 p.m. at Honda Center in Anaheim.

“I don’t think anyone has come in with the billing ever in sports, in basketball,” Rivers continued before Friday’s practice at the Clippers training facility. “He was set up not to succeed. There was no way he was going to outdo what everybody thought he would do – and he has done that.”

“And then he’s never had an off-the-court issue, ever. Nothing. And then he goes past that and does all these things off the floor, he speaks up when he should speak up. I don’t know if there’s been a better role model.”

James has used his vast public platform to speak on social and political issues, including campaigning for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and publicly criticizing President Donald J. Trump. This year, James largely facilitated the opening of the I Promise School, a public school in Akron, Ohio.

“He’s been great,” Rivers concluded, borrowing James’ own phrase. “He’s more than an athlete.”

ON THE COURT

As for that pending matchup against James’ Lakers, well, the Clippers insist the preseason is a time for self-analysis, no matter the opponent.

Rivers said he’s going to continue to play his veterans and his young players, often in lineups that make sense only this time of year.

“No matter how the game is going I’m going to play the young guys, I’m going to play the vets, I’m going to play them together,” Rivers said. “We have so many different combinations that we can trot out there and we’re going to use them all.

“Obviously, if this is a real game, in no way the combinations that I’ll play tomorrow I would do in a real game. But that’s what exhibition season is for.”

Even with the assorted combos, Rivers said he’s looking for his team – which has won both of its preseason games so far, including rolling over the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-101 on Tuesday – to continue to develop continuity.

“In the last game, we took a stride in our defensive effort,” Harris said. “Just being able to pressure the ball and be OK with giving up what we think is OK to give up, but at the same time being scrappy and being in the lane and getting steals and playing solid.”

As far as the team that the Clippers share Staples Center with?

“It’s a great opponent,” Harris told reporters. “For us, we’re looking to get better. For you guys, you guys can make it about what you want to make it, but we’re looking to get better.”

MBAH A MOUTE, TEODOSIC OUT

Guard Milos Teodosic will miss his third consecutive preseason game with an ailing hamstring while forward Luc Mbah a Moute also will sit as he deals with a mild right calf strain, Rivers said.

He said he’s hopeful that Teodosic, who battled a plantar fascia injury for much of last season, could return before the preseason is over.

“He’s moving,” Rivers said. “We only have a couple of (preseason) games left, so hopefully soon.”

Mirjam Swanson covers the Clippers and the NBA for the Southern California News Group. Previously, she wrote about LeBron James and the rest of the Dream Team at the 2004 Olympics (where, yes, they took bronze) and Tiger Woods’ last (for now) major championship. Most recently, she’s covered city government, education and the occasional bear in a backyard.